Learning Resource – A file or set of files which together comprise a digital learning object.

Metadata Record – A set of data which describes a learning resource, and conforms to a metadata specification. All metadata records created by the BEN Collaborators Collections Tool will conform to the BEN Metadata Specification.{1}

Acceptance – The decision to include a learning resource in the collection. This decision certifies that the resource is scientifically accurate and/or of sufficient pedagogical quality to meet the standards of the organization maintaining the collection.

Cataloging – The process of creating a metadata record for a resource for inclusion in the collection. Generally performed by a staff member or affiliate of the Collaborator’s organization for already peer-reviewed resources.

Metadata Editing – The process of modifying a metadata record for a specific learning resource.

Peer Review – The process of subjecting a learning resource to the scrutiny of one or more experts in the field for the purposes of reviewing the scientific accuracy and/or pedagogical quality of a learning resource. Used to help make a decision on eventual acceptance & publication of the learning resource. May involve resource revision and metadata editing.

Publishing – The process of making a learning resource and its associated metadata record available to non-administrative users in a collection.

Resource Revision – The process of modifying a learning resource. Usually performed by the resource’s author, in order to respond to comments made during the peer review process.

Submission – The process of submitting a resource for inclusion in the collection. Generally performed by the author of the resource or somebody otherwise outside of the Collaborator’s organization for resources that have not yet been peer-reviewed. Includes creation of a minimal metadata record for the resource.

Validation – The process by which a Validator confirms that the metadata record representing a learning resource is complete and accurate, and that the learning resource is a valid, peer-reviewed resource. May involve metadata editing, but usually does not involve resource revision.

Staging – Test site. Usually appears to be very similar to the live site, but is not made available to external system users. Used for deployments of new system versions before migration to production use.